Wales slumped to a 38-16 defeat to South Africa in Durban after a ruthless first half from the hosts at the Kings Park Stadium.

The visitors got the game off to a good start. From the kick off they worked good field position and after going through the phases, fly half Dan Biggar slotted a drop goal to put Wales in the lead.

Minutes later South Africa joined the party.

Willie Le Roux, who was named Man of the Match, found space out wide and put a well-weighted chip over the top, winger Bryan Habana won the foot race and ground it just before the ball rolled dead.

Centre Jamie Roberts was yellow carded in the 13th minute for tackling the Springbok full back in the air, Le Roux landed on his hips rather than his neck, which referee Romain Poite explained saved the Wales centre from a red card.

The hosts made the extra man count and after some powerful forward play in the Wales 22, Duane Vermeulen went on the crash and barged his way over from close range.

Wales stuck to the game plan and when they were back in range, Biggar sat back and slotted a sumptuous drop goal.

But almost straight from the restart the South Africans were celebrating another score.

Their flying full back was again the architect, he isolated Aaron Shingler in the defensive line and sped around the flanker before putting Habana in space. The Springbok winger outstripped Liam Williams and Alex Cuthbert to score the Springbok's third try, opening up an early 15-point lead.

South Africa threatened again on the half hour mark but young Jan Serfontein couldn't ground another chip over the top as Wales breathed a sigh of relief.

However, it was the chip over the top that was to be Wales' undoing again for the fourth try and again it was Le Roux. Wales' Liam Williams was covering across but the bounce eluded him and the Cheetahs man was on hand to take advantage.

On the stroke of half time Biggar slotted a penalty and the scores were 28-9 at oranges.

Morne Steyn got the scoring in the second half underway with a simple three points and it was to get worse for Warren Gatland's men.

More South Africa territory eventually told and Wales were spread too thin, the ball was flung wide for wing Cornal Hendricks to score on his debut.

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Wales tried desperately to get some sort of consolation score.

Debutant Gareth Davies found a gap and raced 60 metres up the field before handing the ball to Biggar. The Ospreys man was hauled down just short and offloaded back to Davies who slid over, but the referee pulled it back for a forward pass.

The consolation score eventually came and it was a fantastic solo effort from winger Alex Cuthbert.

Wales turned the ball over in their own 22 and it was passed through the hands out to the speedster who raced 80 metres up field to score under the posts, leaving a trail of would-be tacklers in his wake.

That was to be the last score of the game after Wales held out considerable South African pressure in the closing stages and the hosts ran out convincing winners.